“Lion”: A Heartfelt Odyssey of Family, Loss, and Rediscovery
Initially, the title “Lion” suggested a typical wildlife adventure, perhaps a dramatic tale of a jungle king. However, the movie “Lion” proved to be a deeply touching and emotional journey that resonated far beyond my expectations. It’s a story that stays with you long after the credits roll.
The premise is deceptively simple: an Indian boy, Saroo, from an impoverished village, becomes separated from his family. He faces numerous hardships, eventually ending up in an orphanage and subsequently being adopted by a loving Australian family. Two decades later, driven by a yearning for his roots, he embarks on a determined quest to find his birth mother.
What’s noteworthy is the collaborative effort behind this Indian-centric narrative. While the story revolves around an Indian boy and is rooted in true events, the film’s production involved American and Australian companies. This blend of perspectives adds depth to the storytelling. Beyond the purely emotional experience, the film subtly emphasizes the profound influence a supportive family environment has on a child’s development and future.
The Stark Realities of Saroo’s Early Years
The movie poignantly depicts Saroo’s life in a poverty-stricken Indian village. His mother toils relentlessly, breaking rocks to earn a meager living, while his older brother works tirelessly to supplement the family income. Saroo himself is often responsible for taking care of his younger sister.
One can’t help but wonder: Could Saroo have truly prospered and reached his full potential within such challenging circumstances?
Realistically, the answer is a resounding no. The odds were overwhelmingly stacked against him. A child born into such adversity faces almost insurmountable barriers to achieving any significant success.
Even the most basic necessities were a constant struggle. The family couldn’t even afford the simple street sweets so readily available, let alone education or enriching extracurricular activities.
A Transformation Through Adoption
In contrast, Saroo’s life undergoes a drastic transformation after being adopted by the Australian couple. He is welcomed into a nurturing and loving environment, free from the burdens and anxieties of his past. This stability allows him to flourish, pursue higher education, and secure a fulfilling and promising career.
The Undeniable Importance of a Stable Foundation
John Adams, the second President of the United States, eloquently captured the essence of this idea: “I must study politics and war, that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.”
In essence, a stable social environment forms the bedrock upon which children can freely explore their interests and talents. If political stability is a prerequisite for a flourishing society, then a parent’s primary role is to provide that initial stability, granting their children the freedom to explore the world and delve into the realm of ideas without the constant worry of basic survival.
The Crushing Weight of Mere Survival
Saroo’s difficult upbringing forced him to prioritize survival above all else. Ensuring his own well-being and the well-being of his family became his paramount concern.
Despite the hardships they faced, his birth family was undeniably filled with love. His mother and brother genuinely cared for him and did everything they could. However, as the film illustrates, love alone is not always enough to guarantee a child’s future success and happiness.
The best-case scenario in his original environment might have been his mother’s tireless efforts to send him to school, like his sister, potentially enabling him to become a local teacher or perhaps a driver. While this would have undoubtedly been a great gift from his parents, it would also represent a certain tragedy, a curtailment of his potential due to circumstances beyond his control.
Furthermore, the tragic death of his brother would have likely thrust Saroo into the role of the family’s primary provider, forcing him to abandon his education to support his sister. This path would have inevitably led him to a life of struggle among the millions of other ordinary Indians who face similar challenges every day. He would have been trapped.
Perspective, Opportunity, and the Cruel Hand of Fate
Understanding our place in the grand scheme of things is crucial. Only through a broad perspective and exposure to the wider world can we develop a truly informed worldview. Saroo’s journey highlights this perfectly- from a tiny village in India , to the other side of the world in Australia.
Most people lead ordinary lives, working diligently for the well-being of their children and families, hoping for a brighter future. Education is often seen as the only viable path to that brighter future, the singular hope for a better tomorrow.
The Cold Economics of Success
An American economist once observed that the three primary factors determining a person’s overall wealth are birth, luck, and effort, with effort, perhaps surprisingly, being the least significant of the three.
This statement may seem counterintuitive in a society that so frequently emphasizes the transformative power of hard work. However, upon closer examination, the underlying truth of this assertion becomes increasingly clear.
Some individuals are simply born into privilege, like the children of wealthy families or those born into royalty. Their starting point in life is vastly different from that of the average person. While many are still diligently preparing to even begin the race, they are already nearing the finish line, making it almost impossible to ever truly catch up. This is the stark reality of social stratification.
Luck, too, plays an unpredictable and undeniable role. Like Saroo in the film, his adoption by the Australian couple was an extraordinary stroke of good fortune, a chance encounter that irrevocably altered the course of his life. Without that fortunate turn of events, he would have remained lost and alone, his chances of ever finding his way back home, let alone experiencing the emotionally fulfilling story that followed, incredibly slim.
Effort, however, remains the one thing that we can control completely. It’s the only truly innate and personal asset that belongs solely to us. This relentless effort ultimately manifests itself as money, which then provides the indispensable foundation for almost everything else in our lives.
While extraordinary success may often depend on factors outside of our control, such as luck and advantageous birth, achieving even relative success relies heavily on constant effort. It serves as our most effective means of securing financial stability and upward social mobility.
It is also the fundamental basis for providing our children with an enriching and comprehensive education, equipping them with the necessary tools to thrive in an increasingly competitive world.
Ultimately, the greatest education we can provide for our children is creating an environment of love, support, and stability, one where they have the freedom and encouragement to explore their interests without the constant looming anxiety of mere survival. At the same time, our own unrelenting efforts, both in our careers and in fostering a nurturing family life, serve as a powerful and enduring influence, demonstrating the importance of creating an environment founded on both love and security.